EIGHT PER CENT of drivers favour a zero tolerance policy on driving while texting – believing that people caught doing so should be banned from the roads.

Research by AA Motor Insurance has found that two thirds of drivers would favour the introduction of heavier fines for people caught texting while at the wheel, while 58 per cent of drivers would favour an increase to the penalty points handed down.

Currently, drivers found using a mobile phone at the wheel are given two penalty points on their driving licence and a €60 fine. Less than one in five of the motorists – 19.5 per cent – polled by the AA were firm on the belief that the current punishments were “sufficient”.

Another 20 per cent agreed moderately that the current penalties were appropriate, while 40.5 per cent disagreed to some extent with the current policies.

The overall thoughts of drivers were varied, with some feeling that using a mobile while driving should not warrant any penalties at all – but a clear majority of drivers thought the practice needed to be clamped down on.

“Mobile phone use is something really seems to cause frustration and exasperation among drivers,” AA Motor Insurance director John Farrell said.

“The simple fact of the matter is that you’re four times more likely to crash when you’ve got a mobile phone in your hand, so it’s in everyone’s interest to tackle the issue.”